Control your AR Drone with Playstation 3 gamepad over WiFi

[Zephael]

Hello everybody!

This is my first post on this forum, hopefully not the last one

I made this short description maybe somebody else want to use the AR Drone with an analog controller but want a "cheap" solution.

You will need 3 things for this:

• Rooted Android device with WiFi and Bluetooth.
  Sixaxis Controller application from Android Market (there is a compatibility checker to find out if your device can handle Playstation 3 controllers or not) https://play.google.com/store/search?q=sixaxis&c=apps
  Sixaxis Playstation 3 (with or withou Dualshock) controller

My equipment:

• Motorola Defy (480x854 px) phone
  AR Drone 1.0 with 1.7.10 firmware
  AR.Freeflight v1.9

I can recommend the AR.Freeflight app. for this, because on my Motorola Defy + Sixaxis Controller environment it gave me the smoothest control over my Drone (compared to AR.Pro and ARDrone Flight).

Step 1 – Pair your PS3 controller with your Android device.

For detailed instructions read here: http://www.dancingpixelstudios.com/sixa ... tions.html
You will need your PC at the first time to pair the controller with your Android device.

img1.jpeg

img2.jpeg

Step 2 – Make picture for touch profile.

Connect to your Drone over WiFi with your desired Drone control application and make a screenshot. I used Screenshot UX Trial from Market to create screenshot.

img3.jpeg

Step 3 – Create touch profile.

This touch profile emulation will do the work on the touch screen while you are using the gamepad so design your profile good!

• On your Android device go to Settings -> Language & Keyboard.
  Enable “Sixaxis Controller”
  Go to “Sixaxis Controller” settings -> Touch Emulation.

I set the orientation offset to 0 degrees

img4.jpeg

Edit touch profiles, and load the previously created image.
In the “Add Button” submenu add the ANALOG_LEFT and ANALOG_RIGHT controllers to the profile.
The analog controller size is resizable. I also added START button to start the Drone, and X for emergency shutdown.
Create your profile!

I used my phone in vertical state because of 0 degree offset. Also reversed the left and right analog axis.

After your profile is ready, save it. It is stored on your SD CARD\data\com.dancingpixelstudios.sixaxiscontroller\profiles\ folder.
You can edit your profile here for further fine tune.

img5.jpeg

Content of my touch profile:

Code: Select all

#background: content://media/external/images/media/387 3 0 0 0 0
ANALOG_RIGHT 0.35336044 0.20138153 0.30173543 0 0.2 0.25 0 1 0 0 0
START 0.03258656 0.5 0 0.3
SELECT 0.7606924 0.05260355 0 0.3
ANALOG_LEFT 0.35132402 0.7996811 0.30407965 0 0.2 0.25 0 1 0 0 0
CROSS 0.9837068 0.5010628 0 0.3 

Step 4 – Activate the touch profile

Go back to Sixaxis Controller program, and load your touch profile.

Step 5 – Play

• Enable Airplaine mode if you are using an Android phone.
  Connect PS3 to Android device.
  Start your Drone control application and connect to your drone.
  Enjoy the analog controllers.

You can buy a phone arm band for holding your device while you are using both of your hands for the PS3 controller.

[Grump]

You win the internet! Many thanks for the tutorial, I used it and it works great!

[Zephael]

I'm happy to hear that

Of course this method has some limitations.

1. The strength of your WiFi
Maybe this can be solved with a portable hotspot, an your drone connects to this hotspot, and your phone also.... this could be complicated

2. Fine tuning of your Gamepad. There is an option in the Sixaxis touch profile to edit your Axis preferences (Dead zone, Sensitivity, Movement Delay)

ohh.. I try my best to write what I want to say but I'm not a native English speaker... sorry

So the problem is with the Freeflight application if you does not press your finger in the exact middle of the controller, then Freeflight will redraw the analog stick where you pressed your finger. And that will be the new center of your on screen controller until you release the touch screen. When you release the touch screen, the on screen gamepad will be redrawn on it's original location. This is a good thing if you play with your finger.

The bad thing, if you got a delay in your sixaxis application and you press your PS3 gamepad axis suddenly in max state (direction does not matter). This could result that you pressed your PS3 axis at 100%, Sixaxis controller detected it, but Freeflight application does not detected the first press, just for e.g: the second... the total result is on the Freeflight application is ~90%.

For solution I set Movement Delay and Dead Zone to minimum, and Sensitivity to maximum.

[Grump]

I'm using "ARDrone Flight" instead, the onscreen controls don't move. One issue I had was the touch profile was loading the screenshot in portrait mode, so I had to rotate the screenshot 90 degrees in the gallery first, no big deal. I turned the deadzones all the way down in the touch profile, that way I didn't have to change my finger settings in ardrone flight, it has its own deadzone. I also turned the analog sensitivity way up, to about 2/3. I was never concerned about range, just analog flight. I probably won't buy the macgyver mod now, you saved me mad cash!

[lenrev]

When I checked compatibility with my DroidX it indicated the Android device must be rooted. This should be mentioned in the information before downloading from Google Play.


Sent from my iPad2
using Tapatalk

[hakami]

Or, if you have a mac you can download an app called drone station. It let's you control it with your ps3 control xbox controller logitech joystick anything. it makes it so precise highly recommend

[Zephael]

@lenrev
Added "Rooted" in the description, but the requirements can be read on google play also.

@hakami
Thanks for the suggestion
If you have a PC, you could try also the C# app from here:
http://www.stephenhobley.com/blog/2010/ ... available/

But this is Android topic

[Viaggiatore]

Hi guys, are you still flying with this mod? Do you have new hints? I was thinking to buy a PS3 controller and give it a try...
Thanks a lot!
G.

[KillerBeeCan]

Can this be done with an iphone/ipad or is it just android?

[DBS]

Apple Bluetooth is on lockdown... won't communicate with the PS3 controller

[Sand_man]

Not even with a tweak or anything? what if you have a Jailbreak iphone is there no tweak via cydia you can install?


Sent from iphone 4s Via Tapatalk

[drew80]

i got a samsung fascinate 4g android phone. now does it have to be rooted to be able to try this? cause i really don't konw how to root a phone and don't wanna screw it up.

[DBS]

Yeah... you need root access

You have good support online to root that Samsung no problem... rooting is very safe now... changing your operating system ROM is the thing that starts all the problems if your unsure so stay away from that stuff... you can root really easy and return to stock really easy in case of warranty repair... just Google Samsung fascinate root and do some reading

[Drone Shop]

I first tried this a few months ago. i now cant use any other way to fly. i love it.

[Mr_Buggles]

I first tried this a few months ago. i now cant use any other way to fly. i love it.

Couldn't agree more. I use the PS3 keypad and Velcro for mine.




It's the coolest.